Shehla case: Accused refuses to record statement

Indore: One of the five accused in the RTI activist Shela Masood murder case, Saba Farooqui, today refused to record her statement before a special court for the second time in one month.

Saba, an aide of prime accused Zahida Pervez, was today produced in the special CBI court of Judicial Magistrate Shubhra Singh. She, however, refused to testify under section 164 of CrPc, senior public prosecutor Hemant Shukla told reporters.

Tabish had also refused to testify under section 164 of CrPc. Ibnlive.com

A statement made under section 164 of CrPc is admissible as evidence in court of law.

Saba had last month also refused to testify under the section.

On 11 April, the court had asked Saba to respond within 48 hours whether she was willing to record her statement under section 164 of CrPc.

Besides Zahida and Saba, three alleged contract killers, namely Shaikb 'Danger', Irfan and Tabish Khan are named accused by CBI in the case.

Tabish had also refused to testify under section 164 of CrPc.

When asked if refusal in recording the statement would affect the case, the public prosecutor replied in negative.

"It is not affecting our case..CBI has got sufficient evidence, and will file a challan in the court at the right time," Shukla said, adding that the statements mad by some of the accused to the media are not inimical to the investigations.

Saba is currently under judicial custody for allegedly abetting killing of 32-year-old Shehla who was shot dead on 11 August, 2011 outside her residence in posh Koh-e-Fiza locality in Bhopal.